A LATE season recruit from Cape York is set to bolster the Port Douglas Crocs’ premiership hopes in 2022.
Fitzroy Greenwool will play the final three games for the Crocs before finals as the AFL Cairns powerhouse aims to win its seventh flag in nine years.
The Kowanyama star has played two games for the club and will need to feature in all of the Crocs’ final three matches to be eligible for finals.
A state representative at junior level, the goal-kicking livewire started his season with VFL club Sandringham before returning to Kowanyama recently.
But an invitation from Port Douglas coach Brad Cooper to play closer to home proved too good to pass up with the former NEAFL rising star keen to be closer to home.
“Due to family reasons, it hasn’t worked out for him down south and he’s stayed up here,” Cooper said.
“But he knows a few of our guys, including (full-forward) Kye Chapple who works in Weipa.
“We’re always looking for talent and geographically, we’re the closest club to where he lives.
“Aside from his natural football abilities, he’s a solid citizen and I can see some real leadership abilities.”
Greenwool showed glimpses of his talent in just his second game for the Crocs this season – a loss to Cairns Saints.
“By his own admission, he’s a little bit rusty,” Cooper told Cape York Weekly.
“But there were some exciting passages. He can light up the field with his speed and dare.
“He played his role in a couple of goals.
“We had him on a wing and up forward mainly. I think next week he’ll get some more midfield minutes.”
Greenwool plans to link up with a Darwin team for the NT footy season.
“I’ve always wanted to go over there and play but couldn’t because I’ve had commitments in Melbourne,” he said.
“I want to play there, get really fit and go back to Victoria.
“The main goal is to get stuck into it, focus and get on an AFL list.”
The Crocs will play reigning premiers Cairns City Lions in the final game of the season.
“We need to bank a couple of wins before then,” Cooper said
“We’ve got some other sides we need to deal with.”
